Transfer apparatus



April 1956 F. E. P. BEZIEN 2,741,381

TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed March 27, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l T "1N VENTOR FR\TZ Emu. PAUL BENZJEN QUIPUJN- ATTORNEYS --Z F17 A A ril 10, 1956 F. E. P. BEZIEN 7 2,741,381

TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed March 27, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,INVENTOR FRn'z Emu. PAUL BENZlEN ATTORNEYS April 10, 1956 F. E. P. BEZIEN 2,741,381

TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed March 27, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fi' 7-3 F" 7.4

IN VENTOR FRITZ Emu. PAUL BENZIEN ATTORNEYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR FRn-ZEMIL PAUL BENZIEN BY wvfig w ATTORNEYS April 1955 F. E. P. BEZIEN TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed March 27, 1951 United States ?atent G i TRANSFER APPARATUS Fritz Emil Paul Benzien, South Orange, N. 3., assigner to Colgate-Palmolive Company, Jersey Qity, N. 3., a corporation of Delaware Application March 27, 1951, Serial No. 2 7,748

14 Claims. (Cl. 214-3429) This invention relates to apparatus for handling hollow articles such as empty open-bottomed collapsible tubes, bottles, ammunition shells and the like and is particularly directed to such apparatus embodying special mandrel construction and controls.

In its preferred embodiment, the invention will therefore be described as apparatus for empty collapsible tubes, such as aluminum tubes for tooth paste and other extrudable pasty, liquid or jellied materials, from the usual cellular cartons in which they come from the tube manufacturer and transferring them to a hopper from which they are to be dispensed to a tube filling machine in the usual manner.

These empty tubes are cylindrical except for one conical end where a cap is screwed on over a threaded discharge-nozzle, and the bottom ends are fully open to receive the tooth paste charge during the usual filling operation. A carton of such tubes contains a cellular structure providing individual cells in which the tubes are disposed with their open bottoms facing .a cover which may be removed to expose all for removal. A standard size of such carton used today is nine cells long and eight cells wide, each cell being square and large enough to frictionally receive a tube, and all seventytwo open tube ends are exposed when the cover is removed.

it is the practice to automatically remove these tubes from the cartons in groups by means of a gang of reciprocable mandrels inserted into the tubes at their open ends to frictionally grip them from within and then withdrawn through a stripper device which strips the tubes off the mandrels and drops them into a hopper from which they are dispensed to the usual tooth paste filling machinery.

The present invention to be describedin detail below concerns itself chiefly with novel mandrel structure and controls therefor, for handling any lightweight tubular articles such as toothpaste tubes.

The mandrels heretofore used in the prior art have usually comprised cylindrical plungers each having an expansible and contractible tip that has a conical taper at its front end. This tip is slitted longitudinally at several places so that, as it enters the open end of a tube, it contracts to suit the diameter of the tube, a solid rubber plug thereon being of such diameter as to frictionally grip the tube from within and causing the tube to be carried out of the cellular carton when the mandrel moves away from the carton.

It has been found that these mandrels, while fairly satisfactory when perfectly fitting, are eventually the cause of much damage to the tubes and loss of time in the filling apparatus because even slight misalignment of the mandrels and tubes, a supply of undersized tubes in a carton, or any difference in diameter of the tubes and mandrels which cannot be compensated for by the contraction of the rubber plug as it plunges into the open end of the tubes, usually results in damaged tubes I autssi Eatented Apr. 10, 1956 which condition is not discovered until the damaged tube appears in the tooth paste filling machine later on and causes all sorts of ditliculties. Also the rubber plug hardens with age and when it becomes snfiiciently hard it no longer contracts to grip the tube but deforms and collapses them during entry, and replacement causes reduced production time of the whole machine.

The present invention embodies a novel mandrel structure which is adapted to grip almost any size of tube within a large range of diameters with a minimum of tube deformation and to transfer the tube out of the cellular carton into the stripper device entirely without injury, and novel controls for operating the mandrel.

it is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a novel automatic reciprocable mandrel apparatus for removing tooth paste tubes and like light weight hollow tubular articles from a carton or like container, and novel controls for operating the mandrels.

it is a further object of my invention to provide a novel mandrel construction having an expansible section adapted to internally grip the periphery of a hollow article such as a tooth paste tube, for the purpose of transferring it from one position to another.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel mandrel construction comprising a rigid plunger member having intermediate its ends an expansibie section and containing an internal passage for introduction of fluid under pressure to the expansible section.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a novel mandrel assembly comprising a gang of hollow mandrels each having an intermediate inflatable section and all connected to a common manifold source of fluid pressure.

t is a further object of my invention to provide a novel reciprocable mandrel and control valve assembly, wherein the mandrel has an expansible section, and introduction of fluid under pressure to said section is controlled by the valve and the valve operated by reciprocation of the mandrel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel mandrel having a flexible walled portion expanded by the introduction of fluid pressure.

Further objects of the invention will presently appear as the description proceeds in connection with the appended claims and the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure l is a substantially diagrammatic top plan view of apparatus according to the invention, particularly illustrating the manner in which the mandrels are mounted with relation to the stripper device and the cartons of tooth paste tubes that are to be extracted and delivered to the tooth paste filling machinery;

Figure 1A illustrates a carton of tubes on its side and with its top open as fed into the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary substantially perspective view illustrating generally in side elevation a vertical gang of mandrels mounted on a slidable carriage and supplied by a common manifold with fluid under pressure for expanding the inflatable portions of the mandrels;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the stripper device;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the stripper device;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the stripper and gate assembly;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section of the motor and mechanism for shifting the stripper device back and forth at the gate;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section illustrating one of the blow out tubes which are mounted on the reciprocable under pressure by the common manifold;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating the manner in which the control arrnfor opening and closing the valve admitting fluid under pressure to the mandrels'is mounted on the carriage; and

Figure 10 is a section on line 1i)'1tlofFigure 9illustrating the cam plate for tripping the mandrel control ,valve on the rearward stroke of the. carriage;

Referring now to Figure l, a succession of cartons having their top covers removed and containing a p rality of cells each enclosing a lightweight tubular article T such as a tooth paste tube, with its open end facing the top of the carton, are placed on their sides as in Figfur e 1A on a continuously driven belt 11 which feeds them in the direction of the arrow' toward the tube extracting apparatus;

as will be explained later, is to admit passage of a vertical gang of mandrels into the bank of carton cells which is then lined-upwith the gate.

Belt 12 is suitably drivenby a Geneva or like step by step mechanism, not shown, each step by step movement being sufiicientto move the carton it from left to right in Figure 1' to successively locate each vertical row of tooth paste tubes before the gate 15 for extraction of r the tubes: by the mandrel assembly which is'operatedin synchronism with belt 1-2. At the left of gate ii'rail' 2-4 carries a guide-block structure lfihaving a plurality of vertically aligned apertures 17 for admitting a vertical gang of blow out tubes cluring the forward motion of the mandrel carriage as will appear.

' Directly in front of gate 15 is a'stripper device indicated at 18. andi disclosed: in more detail in Figures 3, 4 and, 5.. This stripper device, as will appear, is shifted back and'forth from left to right in Figure l by a pneumatic 'motor- 19 under control. of a reversing valve mechanism 21 operated by a cam. 22contini1ously. driven by the same mechanism that drives belts 11 and 1.2. The purpose of. this. reversible motor arrangement is to successively align either one of the. two illustrated, passages of thefstripper device. with: the gate. 15. as will appear.

Partgof the mainmachine frame is, illustrated. at 23 and itpcompriscs spaced bosses 24 and 25 which slidably support one. end of a rceiprocable frame comprising'rods 2,5; and. 27 coupled at. their rear ends by a1 tiebar 2,3; This frame is. reciprocated back. and; forth in the direction of the arrows. on the rods by mechanism not shown but conventional in the art.

A carriage 23 is mounted. on the frame for reciprocation therewith, and comprisesa vertical plate 29 hav-m ing at its lower end fixed bosses 3i; and 32. that are rigidly secured to rods 26 and 27 respectively. Mountedon plate 29 is a vertically aligned gang of mandrels 33 which in the particular instance are eight in number as shown in Figure 2, because the cartons of tooth paste tubes are on their sides so that eight mandrels are needed to handle the entire vertical bank of tubes which is disposed before the gate 15 any one time. Each mandrel 33 is preferably of the structure shown in detail in Figure 8 which will be described in detail later.

I Also mounted on the plate 29 is a vertical manifold 34, from the front end of which projects a plurality of nozzles 35 which are also arranged in a vertical gang of eight and adapted to enter the eight apertures 17 illustrated in Figure l and move into the dotted line position of Figure l for supplying blowout air for cleaning out 7 the tubes'before they are moved into the gate 15.

Rearwardly of plate 29 each mandrel 33 opens into a vertical manifold 36 which issupplied with fluid under pressure by a conduit 37 having a valve 38 for controlling timed entrance of fluid under pressure into the inflatable 7 portion of the manifold during the reciprocation of car riage 29. A bar 39 projects rigidly rearwardly from carriage 29 and coacts with valve 38 determining entry or cut off of the fluid under pressure through conduit 37 as will be described in detail.

Referring particularly to Figure 5, the stripper device 18 comprises three: parallel: vertical plates, 49, 4 and42 which are spaced apart a distance:- just. greater; than; the diameter of a tooth paste tube. These plates are held in rigid assembly by suitable means including a top cover plate 43 that is secured thereto as by screws 44-, and a bottom frame indicated at 45 in Figure 4. Frame 45 is adapted to slide in a direction of the arrows thereon over the smooth surface of the underlying support table 46 and both frarne 45'- and table :6 arcsuitably apertured to'permitthe tubes to fallthcrethrough after stripping from the rnandrels.

motor 19 is fixed to support 57 and contains a piston 53 from whichtapistou red 55 projectsthrough opposite ends of the motor to be- SCUTsJIl to block 53 and bar 56. At opposite sides of piston 58, the interior of the cylinder is connected to reversible valve 2 1 by Qonduits-EQ and' as i ustrated in Figure 1. Referring now to Figures 4. and 5, the front end of reciprocable stripper device 18 comprises a flat plate 62 having two. vertical rows. of eight circular: apertures 63 Apertures 63 areaboutequalor slightly less in diameter than a tube T.. Asillu'strated in. Figure 5', vertical channels 64, 65 andv 66. are mounted over the front edges of plates 4f), 41' and=42 respectively, and these channels (s e Figure 4) appear as chords on opposite sides of apert 63, the distance'between. adjacent. channelsbeingless than V the diameter of a. toothpaste; tube. In Figure 5, a tube T is shown in the; position it occupies when it has been drawn forward ona mandrel into the; passage beta-teen plates Land/l and its front; end abuts againstthe. channels 6.4 and 65 so: that further withdrawalof the. mandrel will-strip thetuhesoff and leave tbernfreeahi the passage.

Figure 7 illustrates each tube blowout nozzle. 5.

bpeni'ng into the. common. manifold 34. and fluid under pressure, usually clean air, is suppliedfto marufold 34 through a conduit 67. that (Figure 1) leads to a 'ncr-- mally closed valve as having an. operating plunger'head 65 biased spring 79 A conduit 71 supplies fluid under pressure to valve 63. Also as shown in Figure l is a fixed stop 72 on table 46" adapted to beengaged by plunger head76) when the mandrel carriage reaches its forward position, to momentarily open valve 63 and cause discharge of fluid from nozzles'35' to clean out the interior of all eight toothpaste tubes aligned with apertures 17. v 7

Referring to Figure 8, each mandrel preferably cornprises an elongated. rod having a forward mainly cylindrical portion. 73 and atreduced rear portion 74. passing through a suitable aperture 75 in plate 295 Rear portion 74;is.threaded,at'7llwhe1e it passes through plate 29 and vertical, strips 75, and 77 apertured, alignment with apertures 7.5'areclarnped: to, opposite. st esv of; plate 2-9 by nuts 7.8 and-.79. Thisfarrangement provides a readily accessible longitudinal adjustment; for; each mandrel to individually select optimum. penetration into the tooth A- block 47-, to'whichare rigidly secured projecting stub'shafts illand 49, is secured to plate.

paste tubes. Rearwardly of this adjustment the rod is threaded at 81 to enter manifold 36.

A central passage 82 is formed in the mandrel rod opening at its rear into manifold 36. Forward portion 73 is formed at the front end of passage 82 with an enlarged threaded bore 83 and a further enlarged smooth bore 84. A plug 85 having a central passage 86 aligned with passage 82 has a reduced rear end 87 threaded in bore 83, and its closed front end is externally threaded at 88 for mounting a metal tip 39 having a cylindrical portion 91 of the same diameter as rod portion 73 and a conical front end 92. The diameters of the mandrel at 73 and 91 are slightly less than the diameter of the tooth paste tube to be handled thereby and less than apertures 63.

The rear end of tip 89 comprises an enlarged smooth bore 93 of the same size as bore 85, and annular integral ribs 94 and 95 are formed on plug 85 within these bores. A sleeve 96 of rubber or other elastic friction material is clamped tightly with a fluid tight joint between rib 9dand bore 35 and between rib 95 and bore 93. A plurality of radial passages 97 connect passage 86 with the interior of sleeve 96.

Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the control bar 39 is suitably rigidly secured at its forward end to plate 29 (Figure 9 being viewed from the side opposite to Figure 8). A flat bar extension 98 is longitudinally adjustably mounted on bar 39 by a slot 99 and bolt and Washer assemblies 101, and comprises a downturned arm 102 adapted to engage and rock the valve control handle 103. A valve handle engaging cam plate 104 is also longitudinally adjustable on bar 39, as by slot 105 and bolt and washer assemblies 186, and has an inclined valve handle contacting surface 1%? the purpose of which will appear.

Valve unit 38 is a three way valve of conventional design comprising an inlet 108 coupled to a conduit 1% leading to a source of fiuid pressure (not shown) such as a compressed air tank, an outlet 111 coupled to conduit 37, and an outlet 112 open to the atmosphere. When the parts are in the position of Figure 9 the valve handle 1 .33 has been rocked clockwise to its limit position in that direction so as to close inlet 1132 and connect conduit 37 and manifold 56 to atmosphere through outlet 112. When the carriage 28 has advanced so as to project the mandrels into the tubes (see Figures 1 and 2) arm 192 rocks handle 153 to its counterclockwise limit position where inlet 1% is connected to conduit 37 and manifold 36, and the passage to atmosphere is closed.

Valve unit 35 is mounted on a bracket 113 rigid with support 23, as by nut lid on outlet 112.

Operation An operator places a fresh open carton of tubes on belt 11 as soon as space appears. The step by step movement of the cartons permitted by intermittent belt 12 advances each carton on belt 11 the distance of about one tube diameter during each feed cycle, the thickness of each projection 13 being preferably either negligible or about equal to one tube diameter to insure uniform operation. During a feed cycle, a fresh vertical bank of eight tubes is aligned with gate 15, a passage of stripper 18 is aligned with gate 15, and the mandrel carriage 23 is reciproeated back and forth.

To start, assume the parts in the position of Figure l wherein the second vertical row of eight tubes is aligned with gate and belt 12 is holding carton 10 stationary. At this point the stripper device is in its leftward position of Figure 1 so as to align the passage between plates 41 and 42 with gate 15. Now the mandrel carriage 28 is in its rearmost position and valve handle 183 is positioned as in Figure 9 so that manifold 36 is opened to the atmosphere and sleeve as is relaxed and of less diameter than the cylindrical surfaces 73 and 91.

The mandrel carriage, operated by conventional mechanism driven in timed relation with belt 12 and motor 19,

moves forwardly until the gang of mandrels 33 pass freely through aligned apertures 63 and the correlated stripper passage and enter the aligned vertical row of tubes T. At the time the mandrels have fully entered tubes T at their forward stroke limit indicated in dotted lines in Figure l, the arm 1G2 trips valve handle 193 to connect inlet 103 with conduit 37, so that fluid under pressure enters manifold 36, all eight passages 82. and 86 and inflates the eight mandrel sleeve 96 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 8 so that these sleeves expand into tight friction contact with the internal periphery of the tube within which they are disposed. At about the same time valve 68 is opened by stop 72 to blow out and clean the row of tubes in front of apertures 17.

Then carriage 28 is reversely driven and the rearwardly moving mandrels are withdrawn from the carton 1% carrying eight tubes T with them into the stripper de vice passage. Just before the tubes reach the channel abutting position shown in Figure 5, the sleeves 96 are dedated to release their friction grip and allow the tubes to merely rest loosely on the cylindrical surfaces 73 and 91. in practice I have found it very advantageous to time this sleeve deflation to take place when the open bot tom ends of the tubes is about one and onehalf inches away from the channel strips 65, as although this may be Widely varied to suit conditions.

When the tubes have reached the position indicated in Figure 5, they abut the channel edge strips and are held against further longitudinal movement, so that they are stripped 05 the mandrels which continue withdrawal back to the Figure 1 position. The stripped tubes fall down through the apertured table into the conventional dispensing mechanism (not shown). Channels 6466 may be of hard steel, and are easily replaced when worn, merely by removing plate 62.

Now the belt 12 is intermittently driven to advance the third vertical row of tubes into alignment with gate 15 and the cam 22 operates valve 2?. to reverse motor 19 and rev rse the differential pressure acting on piston 58 to shift the stripper device 18 to the dotted line position of Figure 1 where the passage between plates 40 and 43. is aligned with gate 15. The parts are now ready for a new feed cycle. All of the above movements take place in timed relation, and the longitudinal adjustments of arm 192 and cam face 197, which strikes valve handle 193 during rearward movement of the carriage 28, permit accurate control of the inflation and deflation of sleeve 96 to suit the carriage movement.

While the invention has been disclosed specifically for the transfer of toothpaste tubes, it is not so limited in scope and may be incorporated in transfer devices for all kinds of collapsible tubes, bottles, ammunition shells and other hollow articles where the articles are to be shifted from one place to another. in many cases the articles can be removed by gravity but where positive stripping is necessary any suitable stripper devices may be used. it is especially useful however for the transfer of thin-walled relatively fragile tubes of aluminum or the like that crush easily if longitudinally compressed. Its use in the toothpaste and the like tube field has improved the production eificiency of the whole tube filling apparatus by reducing shutdown time and eliminating injury due to damaged tubes passing into the filling section of the apparatus. The term mandrel is applied to any device for inserting the inflatable tube gripping means within the tube.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended clairns rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired. tov be secured by Letters. Patent in the United States is:

said movement of the mandrel; and effective at the forwardlimit of stroke of said mandrel for expanding a section. of. said; forward end portion into peripheral frictional gripping contact with. the. interior of said article, means for then moving said mandrel in the opposite directiorrtherebyv carrying said article withit to another; position, means forpositively stripping said article from said mandrel, and means operated in synchronism with said opposite movement of said mandrelinand effective just prior to action of said stripping means for contracting said expansible section of the mandrel so that said article 'rnay be readily stripped therefrom.

2. Apparatus for transferring a hollow tubular article from one position to another comprising a reciprocable carriage, a mandrel projecting therefrom in the direction of reciprocation of said carriage and adapted to be axially aligned with said article, an inflatable wall section on said mandrel, a passage in said mandrel leading to the interior of said inflatable wall section, conduit means for conducting fiuid under pressure from a source to said passage, a valve in said conduit means, means moving said carriage in one direction for moving said. mandrel to a position at least partly within said article, means synchronzed with said carriage moving means for actuating' said valve for inflating said wall section at the end of said movement of the mandrel in said one direction for frictionally gripping said article, means operable in timedrel'ationfor reversibly moving said carriage thereby shifting said article between said positions, and sequentially operated means for actuating said valve for deflating said inflatable wall section and then separating said article from said mandrel.

3. In a transfer apparatus, a reciprocable carriage, a mandrel projecting therefrom in the direction-of reciprocation, an inflatable wall section on said'mandreh'a pas: sage in said mandrel leading internally to said wall section, a conduit adapted to supply fluid under pressure to said passage, a valve in said conduit, and means on said carriage operable during reciprocation of said carriage for periodically operating valve in synchronism with said reciprocation of said carriage to introduce fluid under 8 V V 5.. In apparatus for. extracting a group; of tuhular ,ar ticles from a carton, a reciprocable carriage a gang of mandrels mounted on said carriage; and extending in the direction of. reciprocation'of the carriage, intermittent,

mechanism for moving said carton to successively align groups of said articles with saidv gang; of mandrels, a.

pressure into said passage to inflate said wall section during another portion of said rcciprocationcycle comprising members on said carriage spaced; longitudinally of that direction of reciprocation and respectively adapted to operate said valve in opposite directions of movement of said carriage.

4. In a transf r apparatus, a reciprocable carriage, a mandrel projecting therefrom in the direction of reciprocation, an inflatable wall section on said mandrel, a passage in said mandrel leading internally to said wall sec tion, a conduit adapted to supply fluid under pressure to 7 said passage, a valve in said conduit, and means on said carriage operable during reciprocation of said carriage for periodically operating valve in synchronism with said reciprocation of said carriage to introduce fluid under pressure into said passage to inflate said wall section durirrg one portion of said reciprocation cycle and to deflate said inflated wall section during another portion of said reciprocation cycle comprising members on said carriage spaced longitudinally of that direction of reciprocation and respectively adapted to operate said valvein opposite directions of movement of said carriage, said members being relatively adjustable to vary: the timing of inflation of saidwall section.

stripping device, having a passage aligned with said mandrels during reciprocation of the carriage, means for advancing said carriage to. thrus Said mandrels through said stripping device passage cles aligned therewith, each mandrel having an expansible portion adapted to grip,-the interior of the associated ar ticle, at the endoEitsfQLWard stroke, passage m nsl d ing from, asource/ofi fluid pressure: to',the interior. ,ofsaid expansible portions and containing a valve, means operate ins: the valve in timed. relation. with reciprocation of .said

cart age for crpanding saidexpansibleportions whensthe carriage reaches its forward limit of stroke and the man drels are disposed within the articles sothat said. expanded portions internally grip-said articles, means for reversely moving said carriage toward-its initial position with the expanded mandrel portions gripping and moving the ar-- ticles out of said carton and into said stripper, means in said stripper device for arresting'passage of the articles therethrough while permitting movement of the mandrels bacl; toward initial position, and means for operating said valve to contract said expansible portions ofsaid mandrels prior to saidstripping.

In apparatus for extracting a group of tubular articles from a carton, a reciprocable carriage, a gang of mandrcls mounted on saidcarriage and extending in the direction of reciprocation of the carriage, intermittent mechanism for moving said carton to successively align 7 groups of said articles with agang of mandrels, a stripits forward limit. of stroke and the mandrels are disposed ticles from a carton, a reciprocable carriage, a gang of mandrels' mounted on said carriage and extending in the 1 direction of reciprocation .of the carriage, intermittent mechanism for moving said carton to successively align groups of said articles with said gang of mandrels, stripping mechanism having two parallel passages adapted to be alternatively aligned with said mandrels during reciprocation of the carriage, means driven in timed relation with reciprocation'of said carriage for aligning one or the other of said passages with the gang of mandrels, 7 means for advancing said carriage to thrust saidrrnandrels 7 through the aligned. stripping mechanism passage and into the group of articles aligned therewith, each mandrel having an expansible portion adapted to, grip the interior of.

the associated article at the end of its. forward stroke,

passage means leading from a source of fluid pressure to the interior of said expansicle portions and, containing a valve, means operating the valve in timed relation with reciprocation of said carriage 'for and int t roup of antexpanding said expansible portions when the carriage reaches its forward limit of stroke and the mandrels are disposed within the articles so that said expanded portions internally grip said articles, means for reversely moving said carriage toward its initial position with the expanded mandrel portions gripping and moving the articles out of said carton and into said stripping mechanism, means in said stripping mechanism for arresting passage of the articles therethrough while permitting movement of the mandrels back toward initial position, and means for operating said valve to contract said expansible portions of said mandrels prior to said stripping.

8. In a transfer mechanism for hollow tubular articles, a reciprocable carriage, a gang of plungers mounted on said carriage and adapted to be inserted within said articles and each plunger comprising a rigid body portion of substantially smaller cross section than the interior of the article and a flexible annular portion normally of no greater cross section than said body portion adapted to be expanded beyond said body portion into peripheral gripping contact with the inner periphery of the article, a longitudinal passage through each plunger for introducing fluid under pressure for inflation of said flexible portion, a common manifold connected to all of said plunger passages, a conduit leading to said manifold for connecting it to a source of fluid under pressure, a valve in said con duit, and means mounted on said carriage for operable connection to and actuation of said valve in timed relation to advancement of said carriage so that each said flexible annular portion is inflated to grip the associated article after its plunger has been inserted into the tubular article, means for stripping said articles from said plungers during reverse movement of said carriage, and means mounted on the carriage for operable connection to and actuation of said valve in such timed relation to carriage reciprocation that each said flexible wall portion is deflated to release said article just prior to stripping.

9. A mandrel for transferring hollow tubular articles comprising an elongated rigid rod having a substantially cylindrical body portion at its article insertion end, a longitudinal passage through said rod, a rigid extension on said rod having a passage in line with said body passage, a substantially cylindrical tip member mounted on said extension in longitudinally spaced relation to said body, and a cylindrical sleeve of resilent gas tight material surrounding said extension between said body and said tip and clamped thereto in gas-tight relation, said sleeve when relaxed being of smaller diameter than said body or tip and said extension passage opening into the interior of said sleeve.

10. In a tubular article transfer apparatus, a reciprocable mandrel carrier, a mandrel projecting therefrom in the direction of reciprocation, an inflatable sleeve on said mandrel, means defining a passage for connecting a source of fluid pressure to the interior of said sleeve, a valve in said passage having an operating member, means on said carrier for operating said member to actuate said valve to open position after predetermined movement of said carrier in one direction, and means on said carrier for operating said member to actuate said valve to closed position after predetermined movement of said carrier in the reverse direction.

11. In the apparatus defined in claim 10, said means on the carrier being fixed longitudinally spaced projec tions, and said valve operating member being a pivoted lever extending into the path of said projections.

12. In apparatus for transferring hollow tubular articles from one place to another, a reciprocable carriage, a mandrel rigidly projecting therefrom in the direction of reciprocation and having a portion adapted to freely enter an article to be transferred, said mandrel portion having an inflatable wall section and said mandrel having a passage leading into the interior of said wall section, a conduit for connecting said passage to a source of fluid pressure, a valve in said conduit, control means for said valve, means reciprocable with said carriage for actuating said control means to open said valve to effect inflation of said mandrel wall section when said mandrel portion has reached the limit of its stroke within said article in one direction, and means reciprocable with said carriage for actuating said control means to condition said valve for deflation of said wall section after said mandrel has travelled a predetermined distance in the opposite direction.

13. In the apparatus defined in claim 12, said control means comprising a lever projecting from the valve, and said means reciprocable with the carriage comprising two fixedly spaced members on said carriage adapted to operatively engage said lever during the opposite movements of said carriage.

14. In the apparatus defined in claim 12, means for longitudinally adjusting the position of said mandrel on the carriage to vary the penetration of said mandrel portion within said article.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

